By Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi A new edition of Giacomo Puccini’s ‘La fanciulla del West’ tributes the world of filmmaking, at the Milanese Teatro alla Scala. The three-act opera — based on the play ‘The Girl of the Golden West by the American author David Belasco —  tributes the fortitude of the miners who would cross  [ Read More ]

  By Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi Umberto Giordano’s four act opera ‘La cena delle beffe’ (The Jester’s Supper), adapts Sem Benelli’s 1909 play of the same name. The story, set in Florence at the time of Lorenzo de’ Medici, accounts the rivalry between Giannetto Malespini and Neri Chiaramantesi for the affections of the beautiful Ginevra. Neri  [ Read More ]

  by Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi Giuseppe Verdi’s dramma lirico opens Teatro alla Scala’s new season. Giovanna d’Arco returned to Milan’s opera house after 150 years, for “La Prima” on December 7th, feast day of Saint Ambrose, patron saint of the city. For the first time, Riccardo Chailly, principal conductor and successor to Daniel Barenboim, was  [ Read More ]

by Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi Teatro alla Scala concludes its operatic season with Alan Berg, who adapted into an opera the play Woyzeck by Georg Büchner. The production debuted in 1997 under the direction of maestro Giuseppe Sinopoli. In this occasion Ingo Metzmacher conducted the music through a representation that adopts the very same mise en  [ Read More ]

  by Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi Giacomo Puccini’s opera is timeless, for the charming melodies and moving misadventures of the bohemian ensemble. The subject that the Italian composer brought to the stage is one that is able to speak to all generations through the years. La Bohème debuted in 1896 at the Teatro Regio in Turin  [ Read More ]

 by Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi Carbon dioxide delightfully intoxicates Teatro alla Scala with a new opera by Giorgio Battistelli, that talks about the future of the Earth. The libretto by Ian Burton tackles the worst case scenario related to one of the main environmental issues of our century: climate change. Staging is by Robert Carsen and  [ Read More ]

by Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi We all are accustomed to the grandeur of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera, which takes place in the Egypt of the pharaohs. The story – about the enslaved Ethiopian princess, Aida, who becomes romantically entangled with the young warrior Radamès, who is betrothed to the Pharaoh’s daughter, Amneris – has conquered audiences through  [ Read More ]